Zack's vision swam as he stirred on the cold hardwood floor of Lindsey's living room, his head throbbing from when he hit the floor after being shot. As he blinked away the grogginess, he couldn't hear Kenzie's plea to help him anymore and wondered what Sarah had done to her while he was out. He looked up to see Sarah standing over him, she must have been waiting for him.
"You heal faster than I expected," she began, "It's amazing the power you get for making a deal with the devil isn't it? You and I, we used to be nothing. Just two ordinary people destined to live boring ordinary lives. But now we have the power to take anything we want in life."
Hauling himself to a sitting position, Zack rubbed his temples, his blue eyes scrutinizing her. "I didn't have a choice, Gluttony chose for me just like you chose for Boon," he said.
Sarah took a deep breath. "I gave Boon exactly what he wanted, endless power, it's not my fault he didn't ask for more details. And you did make the choice, Ethel could have killed Gluttony and you would be human and yet here we are." She paused, collecting herself. "You seem to think less of sins because we chose to be sins, but our only alternative was death. We chose to survive, that night at cheer practice I chose to survive."
"And then you chose to kill." Zack spat.
"Things are black and white to you, aren't they? unfortunately for you, our world operates in shades of grey," Sarah continued, a haunted look crossing her face. "The Dean wanted to celebrate our progress that night and asked us to meet him for dinner. Tom, Nancy, Maria, William, Pete, and Mark all went pre-drinking and then drank even more at the dinner. I don't even think they noticed I left early, I only lived a few blocks away."
Zack felt a cold shiver run down his spine as he imagined what happened next.
"They didn't see me, Zack," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I remember feeling the car slam into me, and the feeling of the blood leaking from my head, I knew I was going to die. I could hear them talking, not about calling 911, no, about how to get rid of my body. They buried me in a shallow grave close to Grand River, even though I still had a pulse."
Zack felt sick to his stomach, he still didn't have the strength to fight. All he could do was listen, and question who the real monsters were in this story.
"After I made my deal I tried to go to the dean," she added bitterly. "He warned me not to tell anyone, blaming me for drinking too much. He said dismantling the team was punishment enough and I was alive so no harm, no foul."
"But what about Kenzie and Lindsey, they are completely innocent in all of this," Zack asked, trying to Sarah to see what her quest for revenge causing.
"If it weren't for you trying to stop me, they would have been fine," Sarah replied. "But I do have to thank you for something Zack, getting rid of Gluttony was a huge help. We sins tend to be very territorial so he wouldn't have been very welcoming of my presence."
Zack listened intently, confused by her words.
"I could feel it when you sealed him away," Sarah continued, her voice steadier now, "A so I started with the dean, waiting until he was alone. With Gluttony gone and the exorcists weakened, it was the perfect moment to strike."
For a moment, Zack sat in stunned silence, processing the gravity of her confession. "Sarah, I'm sorry... but killing isn't the answer. You should have gone to the police to get justice."
"Zack, you have no idea what it is like to die," she said coldly. "This is true justice."
-----
Just a few feet away in the front foyer Ethel still had your claws extended into her leg, the venom almost completely drained from her body. She could feel sensation returning to her legs and arms.
"Damn it," she hissed through gritted teeth, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
Just then, every light in the house went out, bathing the room in darkness. Ethel looked over at Rob, who also seemed concerned by the sudden unexplained power outage. Outside, headlights swept over the home as exorcists armed with automatic weapons surrounded the exits. They began firing through the windows, bullets shattering glass and sending shards flying.
"Shit!" Sarah shouted, diving behind the couch and avoiding the hail of bullets. Zack also threw himself to the floor as the bullets zipped through the air above his head, cushion stuffing and shattered nick-nacks filled the air.
A smoke grenade crashed through one of the broken windows, releasing thick plumes that filled the room and obscured their vision. Coughing and disoriented, Zack scrambled to his feet, hoping this distraction would let him find Kenzie and get her to safety.
"Rob!" he called out, making his way through the fog until he saw his figure lying on the floor. Boon was nearby, his body beginning to vanish from view and Zack knew Sarah was activating him.
"Zack, look out!" Rob warned, his eyes wide with fear.
But Zack was already moving, narrowly avoiding Boon's sharp claws as he grabbed Rob and hoisted him over his shoulder. "Where's Ethel?" Zack asked as he raced up the stairs. He could feel the heat of Boon's breath on his neck as they ran. The adrenaline coursed through his veins, as he tried to think of a place they could regroup.
Finally, they reached Lindsey's bedroom, and Zack let out a shaky breath as he placed a barrier between them and the Familiar, momentarily safe. He sat Rob down and untied him.
"I don't know where she is," Rob said as he massaged his wrists. "She healed herself and took off."
"OK, stay here and stay safe. I'm going back for Kenzie and Lindsey." Zack instructed and Rob nodded in agreement. As Zack raced back down the stairs, he encountered Deb in the hall. Her dark eyes blazed with fury as she brandished a knife.
"What are you doing here?" Zack asked even though he was pretty sure he already knew the answer.
"Where are Sarah and Ethel?" Deb replied, ignoring his question. She couldn't look Zack in the eye as she asked the questions.
"I don't know but listen Ken...," Zack began.
"The exorcists can handle this, if you don't know where they are then you are useless here. Go home before you get yourself killed," she warned her gaze finally meeting his. With one final glare, she turned and disappeared down the hallway, leaving Zack standing there, his heart pounding in his chest as he realized the exorcists were there too.
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
---
Deb continued down the hall to the spare bedroom where Jessica waited by the door, her gun raised. Deb's heat-vision goggles illuminated the otherwise dark space, revealing Boon's hulking figure curled up on the wooden dresser against the far wall. Jessica's whispered voice broke the silence, her words clipped and precise.
"Stay low, and be ready."
"Got it," Deb replied, her hand gripping the hilt of her knife tightly. She tried to push away the fear gnawing at the pit of her stomach, focusing instead on the task at hand – eliminating Boon before he could kill again.
As Jessica inched closer, Boon suddenly sprang from his perch, a snarl ripping through the air. Deb lunged forward, plunging her knife into the creature's head. It pierced right between Boon's eyes, but he barely seemed to notice, simply pulling it free and healing instantly. Deb could see the creature tilt its head as if deciding what to do with her through her goggles.
"Run!" Jessica shouted, pushing Deb toward the door.
Deb sprinted, unsheathing another knife and dousing it with holy water as she went. She could hear Boon thundering after her, the sound of his ragged breathing echoing through the hall. In the stairwell, Deb turned to let her dagger fly, her heart pounding in her ears. There was no sign of Boon anywhere, there was nothing but eerie silence in the hall.
Then a scratching sound echoed down the halls and a growl filled the air. Deb turned her head to find Boon's heat signature on the ceiling above her, she seized her chance, throwing the dagger and driving the holy-water-soaked blade into his chest. Boon merely snarled and grabbed her by the throat, his grip vice-like. Desperate, Deb managed to unsheathe yet another knife and plunged it into his side. But Boon was unfazed, hurling her down the stairs with a guttural roar.
Deb's world went black as she crashed to the floor, pain blossoming through her skull. She barely registered Sarah's presence as she sauntered over, a twisted grin on her face.
"Ah, Deb," Sarah crooned. "So nice of you to join us." Sarah's claws began to extend.
A sudden strong aura pulled Sarah's attention away from Deb, who lay dazed and struggling for breath. Deb's vision blurred as she watched Sarah stalk off, leaving her broken and vulnerable.
Moments later, Jessica emerged from the smoke. Her face was a mask of concern as she swooped down to lift Deb into her arms, carrying her out of the house to safety.
"Stay with me, Deb," Jessica urged, her voice urgent but gentle. "You're going to make it. I'm not losing anyone else tonight."
As darkness threatened to engulf her once more, Deb clung to Jessica's words like a lifeline.
-----
With a determined grunt, Lindsey finally managed to pry the fixture loose, freeing herself from her handcuffs. As she rubbed her sore wrists, she noticed the door opening, ducking out of sight she watched as Rob entered. She hurried over to him, concern etched on her face.
"Rob, are you alright?" Lindsey asked, her voice strained with worry.
"Been better," Rob wheezed, pain and exhaustion evident in his voice. "But I'll manage."
Before Lindsey could say anything else Sarah slipped through the doorway with an ominous smile and a rifle. With a swift strike, she coldcocked Lindsey into unconsciousness.
"Sorry, sweetheart," Sarah said, stepping over Lindsey's limp form. "Can't have you meddling any further." Sarah looked at Rob and raised the gun again, but a bullet ripped through the door and embedded herself in her back. Enraged Sarah turned and charged back through the door at her attacker.
Outside smoke billowed out from the shattered windows, filling the night air. Pablo smiled to himself as he watched the chaos he had unleashed. He retrieved his silver pill case from his pocket, popping open the lid and swallowing the contents in one gulp. Licking the remnants from his hand. As if sensing an invisible presence, his gaze was drawn to the far end of the property.
"Planning on coming out to play?" Pablo called, his voice laced with suspicion.
But the figure remained silent, watching the chaos unfold within the home.
Inside, Kenzie pleaded with Sarah, who had taken shelter from exorcist gunfire in the basement. "Please, let me see Zack. I need to know he's okay."
"You really don't know anything," Sarah said with a dismissive wave. "You should be more worried about yourself." Sarah pulled a camera from her pocket and snapped a photo of Kenzie's fear.
No sooner had she spoken than Ethel broke through the door at the top of the stairs, her full demonic form casting an eerie glow. The Familiar followed close behind, snarling and snapping at her heels. The two supernatural beings clashed in a whirlwind of violence, as they tumbled down the staircase.
The Familiar turned its attention to Kenzie, the unseen force moving in on its prey. But before it could reach her, Zack lept down the stairs, his eyes shifting to their dim pink color. Using his telekinesis, he yanked the creature away from Kenzie and sent it crashing into a shelf full of boxes.
"Stay back, Kenzie," Zack warned, his voice tense and focused as he positioned himself between her and the Familiar.
As Ethel recovered and re-engaged the Familiar, Zack turned to help Kenzie up. She recoiled in horror at the sight of him, her mind unable to understand the events unfolding in front of her.
"Zack...what are you?" Kenzie whispered, tears streaming down her face.
"I can explain it all to you," Zack replied, his voice trembling with emotion. "But right now, you need to get out of here before you get hurt."
Kenzie nodded but still refused to take his hand. Zack guided her to the side of the door and she slipped through without a word. Her face still betrayed her fear of Zack and his power.
Swallowing his pain, Zack turned back to help Ethel fight Boon, his heart pounding in his chest. As he rounded the corner Ethel and Boon were nowhere in sight, instead, Pablo was leaning laundry machine.
"Zack," Pablo said coolly, as he approached. "Where is Ethel and the familiar."
"They were just here," Zack retorted, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "What are you doing here? I thought I was supposed to handle things with Ethel and Boon. And if I did that then you would keep the people I love safe."
Pablo took a deep breath, clearly annoyed. "Oh Zack, can you blame me for getting a little impatient? It's been months and you still haven't found out where Ethel and her covenant are hiding," Pablo said, his voice as cold and calculating as ever. "Unless of course, you have been protecting her this whole time."
"Why would I do that? All I want to do is get my friends out of here in one piece." Zack retorted "Now if you'll excuse me I am going to get Rob and Lindsey." As Zack hurried away, he failed to notice Ethel hidden beneath the stairs.
-----
Outside, Sarah raced through the backyard to the bridge that crossed the small ravine. With adrenaline pushing her forward, she sprinted toward her only path to freedom, her breath ragged and her legs burning. To her surprise, Pablo was already there as if he read her mind and moved with supernatural speed.
"Wrath," Sarah breathed, relief washing over her as she saw Pablo's aura shift to a deep indigo. "I knew you were clever, but this... truly impressive."
"Silence!" Pablo snarled, his anger palpable. "You've been nothing but an embarrassment, nearly ruining everything for me. If you had killed Ethel tonight everything would have been over for me."
Sarah fell silent, she could feel Wrath's powerful aura suppressing her own. "I... We can fix this, I just need one more and I will be at full power."
"Oh I am afraid that doesn't work for me, but good news you will still help me in the end." Pablo made his intentions clear as he gestured toward the water. Sarah peered over the railing to find the swirling whirlpool beneath the bridge, it seemed endless even though the water was less than a foot deep, and she knew he intended to seal her way for another century.
"Wait!" she cried, struggling against his iron grip. But it was futile; Pablo's strength bested her easily, and with one final push, he sent her hurtling into the abyss. The whirlpool vanished the moment she slipped below the surface, leaving only the echoes of her screams behind.
With a sinister grin, Pablo turned to the Familiar standing motionlessly by the edge of the bridge, placing a hand on his chest he burned his own mark into Boon. What Pablo didn't realize was that Kyle lurked nearby, watching Wrath and the Familiar with keen interest.
The echoes of Sarah's screams were heard by Zack as he helped Rob and Lindsey out of the home, and somehow he knew she was gone, her aura vanishing from this plain of existence. As Ethel scrambled back to safety down a nearby ally, she also felt Sarah vanish, wondering who could be powerful enough to eliminate the sin.
Back at Ethel's apartment, John shot up in bed, waking Olivia and Kristian.
"What's wrong?" Olivia asked, still half asleep.
"Didn't you feel that?" John asked, still unsure of exactly what caused him to wake up.
"Feel what, dude?" Kristian asked, annoyed that John had woken him up.
"That weird feeling like something just vanished, but I don't know what." John tried to explain.
"Just go back to sleep, you aren't making any sense," Kristian demanded, as he returned to his room. Olivia followed suit, leaving John alone in the living room to contemplate the weird sensation that woke him.